Tortuguero is a village on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Because most of us Brits have beginners Spanish lodged in our minds from School, the name of this place is obviously linked to turtles. When we booked our trip, we soon realised that we were arriving during the turtle breeding season. Seeing turtles in Tortuguero really was such an amazing experience, but I genuinely did not know what to expect. Here is the blog post that I wish I had read before.
Seeing Turtles in Tortuguero – Everything you need to know
Which Tour Should I Book?
During the months of May through to October, the village of Tortuguero is a key destination for green turtles wanting to lay eggs. The locals know this and there are tours everywhere you look. In fact, we saw so many different offers whilst we were there we wondered how everyone would fit.
Before we arrived, I had seen horror YouTube videos of tourists descending on beaches to watch turtles. I was determined not to be a part of a mass crowd. I didn’t want to be a part of something that disturbed the turtles, let alone pay for it. Our hotel, the Evergreen Lodge, ran their own tours. As an eco-lodge I knew that it would be sustainable and fair on the wildlife.
If you can, go with a hotel-trusted tour. I think that it is very easy to fund tours that do more harm than good. I would also check to see what activities they are running. Any tour offering a chance to pick up baby turtles is a massive no. I would also stray away from tours that have big groups.
What Should I Expect?
Our tour left at 9pm and we went to the coast by boat. We landed on the other side of the peninsula and walked through the rainforest to get to the beach. This was an interesting experience, especially as we weren’t allowed to use bright torches to see where we were walking!
Once we were on the beach there were strictly no lights (or phones/ cameras) allowed. The guide had a red light which guided the 10 of us. Other than that, we couldn’t really see anything aside from the fireflies. The guides all talk to each other and know where the turtles are. Within 5 minutes, we were watching one make her way back to the Ocean. This was really amazing but, after a few moments, we left to find another turtle.
The law in Costa Rica states that you cannot disturb a turtle that is digging. This means that, whilst they are digging, you have to stay away. Most of the turtles were in this process whilst we were there, which meant we had an hour standing in the dark listening to the guide. We were then told we could watch her lay eggs and begin the ‘camouflage’ process. This is where the female turtle covers the nest with sand.
I must say that I did expect to see more turtles, with less time spent waiting around. However, it really was one of the most memorable experiences of my holiday. Just be prepared for a lot of waiting in the dark, rain or not.
What Should I Bring?
Tours are really strict on certain things to bring. FIrstly, they all insist on wearing dark clothes. Most people wore black trousers and t-shirts. This is so the turtles do not get disturbed whilst they are laying.
Another key rule is no photography or lights. My husband got a notification on his phone, which caused a small light to be seen through his trousers. This was enough to receive a small slap on the wrists – they need to be super strict. I would say to turn phones on silent and to just not risk bringing the camera. Apparently the authorities monitor tours and will shut them down if they spot even a small glint of light. Then, the rules usually are that if a tour gets shut down, then the offender pays for everyone…
Lastly, make sure you bring a raincoat. Costa Rican weather is unpredictable and tours run no matter what the weather. If it is raining, I would also suggest bringing water boots as they will dry better. The humidity is so high that fabrics won’t dry at all during your stay. Our guides at Evergreen even suggested flip flops during rain…
What Should I Pay?
This one is quite difficult. For our tour, we paid within the region of $45 per person. This only included a guide and transport. I would say though that Costa Rica is surprisingly expensive so, if you are looking for an ethical tour, this is probably around the price to pay. I would be wary of anything significantly more or less than this. The best advice I can give is go for trusted companies.
Seeing Turtles in Tortuguero – Final Thoughts
Seeing turtles in Tortuguero really was a beautiful experience. To see such an incredible creature laying eggs has to be one of the most privileged moments of my travels to date. Plus, every penny I spent went towards conservation work there, which helped protect this magnificent animal for future generations. Should you do it? Yes! But, only if you know exactly who you are booking with.
